Another Idiot Gets Warped Into Tortall

Disclaimer - I don't own anything don't sue

A/N - yes I know I haven't updated in forever. I was waiting for 5 reviews telling me if they want Karigan to join the riders. I dunno if she is. You might find out in this chapter. I wrote this before the chapter so I dunno wut will happen. The world may explode and everything may die. I dunno. I am kinda in that mood but I probably won't kill everyone because then I would have to think of a new plot. I will update 3 days a week. A week for me starts on the first day I have school that week.

****************************************************** Chapter 8 - Of Unimportant Things ******************************************************

It was later in the day that Karigan had talked to Ouna. She was pacing in circles around her room. She was trying to think. Normally one conversation wouldn't have even made Karigan worry for a minute, but this was different. It wasn't just Ouna that bothered her.

That one simple conversation had brought on a whole new chain of doubts. Karigan had so far told herself she didn't need to find anything to do because she WAS going to get home, but now she was thinking differently.

Karigan thought as she listened to the sound of her boots first clicking on the stone and then making a muffled sound as she walked on the carpet. A SINGLE conversation had shaken her resolve entirely. This wasn't like her at all. Karigan knew she had been adjusting to her knew environment. For the first few days in Tortall she had been a completely different person. Now she was back to her old self. Thank goodness.

Or mostly back. The old Karigan never let anyone bother her. She sighed and slumped into the chair in front of the fire. She took a few deep breaths and sorted her thoughts. That ever-calm corner of her mind took over.

*Yes, I was sure I was going home. That was the first mistake. I MAY still get to go home, but what if I don't get to go home right now? I can't just sit here forever. Now all I have to do is to think of something to occupy my time with. * Karigan got up and started walking in circles again.

*As far as I can tell I don't have many choices since I don't fit into the culture very well. I could join the riders and risk being awful at it (only the calm corner of her mind would admit this to herself) or I can go look for something else that I probably wont like either and still look like an idiot. *

She stopped pacing for a moment and just stood there before sitting down again. She seemed to have very few choices. * This may not seem like an issue getting upset over but I will have to choose sometime. Too bad I can never seem to make up my mind. * She took another deep breath. * Oh shoot! I don't know enough about this freaking country! I can't do almost ALL of the things I like to do here! except for riding horses* a very small part of her mind countered. * Just because I LIKE something doesn't mean I'll be any good at it* she thought grumpily. Without intending to, Karigan knew she should probably at least try to join the riders.

All she needed to know for that was how to read and write. Thankfully, Tortallan used the same alphabet as English so she wasn't THAT hopeless.

Karigan's stomach grumbled. That made sense. She hadn't eaten since an apple at breakfast and had spent most of the day doing anything to keep her hands busy.

Looking at herself Karigan knew she was really stressed about something. Other than what to do with her time in Tortall. *Maybe it's that strange flute-* Karigan cut herself off. Her dreams were getting more annoying as if they knew she was trying to ignore them even if that meant she was kinda screwed up with other decisions.

It was strange. The moment she even started to think about the melody while she was awake Karigan felt better. That was too confusing to even try to think about, even in the momentary calm.

Karigan got up and switched to her favorite blue wool dress for dinner. It was true she had never worn dresses at home but she didn't want to stick out. Ever. So she had decided a few days ago to wear her nice plain dresses to dinner and wore more comfortable clothes in the daytime.

Today they were eating dinner in Alanna's rooms. They meaning Alanna, Myles, Karigan and Raoul. When the bell in the tower clanged six times Karigan headed down to Alanna's rooms. On the way there Karigan nearly ran into Alanna, who was carrying a try of food from the kitchen to her rooms.

Karigan accompanied Alanna to her rooms and they, mostly Alanna, talked of unimportant things until the two other people came. Not that they ever talked about anything important no matter who was there.

Karigan enjoyed a quiet meal. As always she listened more than talked. Soon Myles and Raoul took their leave and went to go do whatever it was that they had to do.

Alanna and Karigan sat in semi-comfortable silence as they finished their meals. Karigan liked listening to other peoples conversations but quiet was all right with her too. At school Karigan would just sit and listen to the conversations buzzing around the cafeteria, occasionally talking but most of the time just listening.

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A/N - that was probably one of the most pointless things I've ever written. TeeHee! But I think it was longest I've written so far. Ok here are thank yous -

fanstyfan - I will see if Torie will beta read my stories. I kinda made up an excuse for her personality changing but if that doesn't work with you just pretend that she has a lot of mood swings because I certainly do. Thanks for reviewing!

ari - thanks for reviewing! I might have her meet Daine if I can find my 'wild magic' book again.

Alexis of the Westlands - thanks for being flexable! I will probably go with the riders but I dunno.

Razamataz, the Jupiter Adept - I'm just pretending you only said that you liked chapter 6 because I don't need to know what your muses like. Thanks for reviewing! See you at school!

nuit*nothing - thanks for reviewing! I think I'll go with your suggestion.

I HAVE 35 REVIEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Heehee! bye